MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam at the 68th Session of The United Nations General Assembly, 26 September 2013

        Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, who is in New York for the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), met his foreign affairs counterparts from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Papua New Guinea, Romania, Belgium, Iceland, Grenada, Iraq, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Sri Lanka and Chile. Minister Shanmugam also met the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). Minister Shanmugam also attended the ASEAN Informal Foreign Ministers' Meeting (IAMM), hosted lunch for the Foreign Ministers of the Pacific Islands, and hosted a reception for the Foreign Ministers of the Forum of Small States (FOSS).

2        During the IAMM, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei, the Ministers discussed regional and international developments, reviewed preparations for the forthcoming 23rd ASEAN Summit and related Summits in Brunei and tasked officials to finalise arrangements to begin work on a post-2015 vision for ASEAN.

3        During the lunch with the Pacific Islands Ministers, there were discussions on a broad range of issues of common interest including climate change, city planning and water resource management. The Ministers also discussed ways in which Pacific Island States could deepen their engagement with Singapore and with the broader Asia region.

4        Minister Shanmugam and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, noted the excellent ties between Singapore and the UAE. Both Ministers looked forward to attending the inaugural Singapore-UAE Joint Committee in 2014. The Ministers also discussed recent developments in the Middle East.

5        Minister Shanmugam met Papua New Guinea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Rimbink Pato, and the Minister of Community Development, Religion & Youth, Loujaya Toni. Minister Shanmugam welcomed the re-opening of the High Commission of Papua New Guinea in Singapore. The Ministers also discussed possible training courses for officials from Papua New Guinea in Singapore, and explored ways in which both countries could share their experience in community and social development, as well as finance management.

6        During the meeting with PCA Secretary-General Hugo Siblesz, Minister Shanmugam welcomed the proposal by the PCA to set up a permanent office in Singapore, and said that the move would be beneficial not just for Singapore and the PCA, but for the broader Asia region. Minister Shanmugam noted the good cooperation which the PCA has had with Singapore, particularly with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.

7        Minister Shanmugam and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Didier Reynders, discussed ways in which Singapore and Belgium could broaden the existing economic ties. Both Ministers agreed that the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) would be beneficial to European and Singapore companies, and looked forward to the EUSFTA’s early ratification. The Ministers also discussed possible collaborations in bio-technology, renewable energy, and water resource management.

8        During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Kristian Vigenin, the Ministers noted the long-standing ties between Bulgaria and Singapore and discussed ways to boost economic cooperation. Minister Shanmugam also discussed the EUSFTA, and sought Minister Vigenin’s support for the FTA’s early ratification.

9        With the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Business of Grenada, Nickolas Steele, Minister Shanmugam continued the discussions on issues raised during the lunch hosted by Minister Shanmugam for the Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Community on 25 September 2013. The Ministers also discussed ways in which both countries could share experiences through more exchanges and other training programmes.

10        Minister Shanmugam and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties between Iceland and Singapore. Minister Shanmugam thanked Minister Sveinsson for Iceland’s support of Singapore’s successful bid to become an Observer in the Arctic Council. Singapore looked forward to making constructive contributions to the discussions in Arctic Council meetings.

11        With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Titus Corlatean, Minister Shanmugam thanked the Government of Romania for the manner in which it has handled the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d’Affaires in Singapore. Minister Shanmugam highlighted the importance which the Government of Singapore continued to attach to the case, and that the Government of Singapore, through its Special Envoy, Ambassador in Brussels Ong Eng Chuan, together with representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers would continue to maintain a presence at the appeal hearings. The Ministers also looked forward to the ratification of the EUSFTA soon, and discussed ways in which Europe and Asia could intensify the existing engagement.

12        With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, Hosyar Zebari, Minister Shanmugam welcomed the proposal by Iraq to establish a permanent mission in Singapore. The Ministers also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties between Iraq and Singapore. 

13        With the Minister of External Relations of Chile, Alfredo Moreno, Minister Shanmugam noted the warm relations between the two countries and the progress being made in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

14        With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, both Ministers discussed possible exchange of visits between the two countries, and the upcoming Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meetings in Bahrain.

15        Minister Shanmugam and the Minister of External Affairs G L Peiris discussed the bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Singapore. Minister Shanmugam also discussed the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo.


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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
27 SEPTEMBER 2013